by Michelle Graf

Created on: November 22, 2009

Vancouver/Whistler is an ideal site for a Winter Olympics, with the facilities of a large, modern city located so close to the superb alpine skiing facilities in Whistler. A number of venues in the Vancouver and Whistler areas will be hosting the various events of the 2010 Winter Olympics. The following are the prime venues in and around the City of Vancouver.

B.C. Place

Constructed for Expo '86, this enclosed stadium, the largest air supported dome stadium in North America, looks a little like a giant white pin cushion nestled on the landward side of the downtown skyscrapers. Home to the B.C. Lions CFL Football team and host to big ticket concert events, the stadium seats over 55,000, making it ideal for the Opening and Closing Ceremonies. Located within walking distance of most of the downtown core, it is also immediately adjacent to the Stadium Skytrain station.

GM Place/Canada Hockey Place

Built in 1995, GM Place is the home of the Vancouver Canucks NHL Hockey team, and has hosted a number of cultural and musical events. During the Olympic Games, it will be temporarily renamed "Canada Hockey Place". The arena is within walking distance to downtown Vancouver, and is adjacent to B.C. Place. The arena seats over 19,000 screaming fans, and will host the ice hockey events.

Richmond Olympic Oval

Constructed for the 2010 Olympic Games, this complex is more than just your standard ice rink. Long after the games, the citizens of Richmond will enjoy over 23,000 square feet of fitness studio space; badminton, volleyball and basketball courts; and of course, North American and Olympic size skating rinks. The facility is located in the City of Richmond, a suburb of Vancouver south of the city proper. It is located directly across the Fraser River from the Vancouver International Airport. The Canada Line of Vancouver's light rapid transit stops approximately 1.5 km from the complex, at Aberdeen Station.

Pacific Coliseum

The grand old dame of Vancouver, once home to the Vancouver Canucks, was built in 1968. In the forty plus years since, it has been at the center of the Pacific National Exhibition, an annual late summer fair complete with roller coasters and fireworks. The Coliseum seats around 14,000 people, and will host the figure skating and some speed skating events at the Olympics.

UBC Thunderbird Arena

The home of the University of British Columbia's hockey team, this arena will play host to some of the ice hockey events. The arena is named after Doug

• 1
• 2
• Next Page >>